Flexible Video-on-Demand Viewing Period

ABSTRACT

A flexible video-on-demand viewing period is varied depending on whether the customer has completed viewing the entire program, allowing the viewing period to be extended if the customer has not completed viewing the entire program. The approach better assures the customer that they will have the opportunity to complete viewing the entire program, compared to a fixed rental period, while assuring program copyright owners that the utility of the rental is limited, fundamentally as intended, preserving the future value of the asset. The approach also enables viewers to retain bookmarks as needed for content that is not naturally tied to a rental period, such as subscription video-on-demand, without unnecessarily enlarging their list of active rentals.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

Embodiments relate generally to viewing an on-demand video and moreparticularly to a flexible viewing periods for the on-demand videorental.

2. Background Art

Home video rentals of movies have traditionally been offered with fixedrental periods. This began with rentals of movies on videotape, whereretention of the videotape by one customer meant that the rentalmerchant could not rent the same videotape to another customer. Forroughly the first two decades of the home video rental industry, rentalon a nightly basis was the dominant business model.

As video-on-demand rentals of movies became available, the rental of amovie to one customer no longer prevented the video-on-demand serviceprovider from renting the same movie to other customers. However, thefixed rental period model was already well-established in the minds ofboth consumers and movie studios, and consequently, fixed movie rentalperiods were adopted for early video-on-demand systems. These systemstypically implemented rental periods of twenty-four to forty-eighthours. For example, the early DIVX rental system enabled aforty-eight-hour rental period of forty-eight hours beginning at firstplayback. Cable systems typically implement a twenty-four hour rentalperiod, beginning at the time of order.

For simplicity and convenience of implementation, cable systems havetypically also implemented a twenty-four rental period for subscriptionvideo on demand orders. That is, when a subscriber orders an asset thatis part of a subscription package, a twenty-four hour viewing window istypically imposed, despite the fact that there is no transactionalcharge for the order, and the user is free to re-order the asset, at noadditional cost, so long as the asset remains available as part of thesubscription package. Therefore, the user need not complete viewing theasset within the twenty-four hour period. The need to re-order createstwo disadvantages, however. The user must again navigate through theuser interface to locate the asset for re-order (as opposed to findingit directly in an “active rentals” list), and upon re-ordering, the userwill have lost any bookmark allowing playback to be restarted where itlast ended.

Since the advent of video-on-demand, there have been significant changesin the movie rental market. In particular, NetFlix's subscription DVDmail-order rental service significantly changed the rental model, byeffectively eliminating late charges and allowing subscribers to retaina rented DVD as long as they wish. In response, local retail movierental businesses extended typical rental periods to as much as twoweeks without late charges.

Consequently, the twenty-four hour rental periods still typically usedby cable operators (and required by movie studios) has becomeincreasingly unattractive to consumers.

Accordingly, what is needed is a new, more flexible viewing period forvideo-on-demand that will satisfy the movie studios' fundamental desirethat movie rentals reflect a very limited duration access to the rentedproduct, while simultaneously satisfying the consumer's desire forflexibility in viewing and confidence that, once they have paid for amovie, they will be able to complete watching the entire movie at theirconvenience.

Furthermore, what is also needed is a viewing period for subscriptionassets that will maintain easy access, and retain any establishedbookmarks, so long as the asset remains available, and the user has notyet completed viewing the asset.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention discloses systems and methods for implementing a flexiblevideo-on-demand (VOD) viewing period. In an embodiment, there remains amaximum rental period, measured from either the time an asset is orderedor from the time playback first begins. In another embodiment, theinvention implements a post-completion maximum viewing period. Inanother embodiment, the invention implements a constructive completion.

Further embodiments, features, and advantages of the invention, as wellas the structure and operation of the various embodiments of theinvention are described in detail below with reference to accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS/FIGURES

The accompanying drawings are included to provide further understanding,are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, andillustrate embodiments that, together with the description, serve toexplain the principles of the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of architecture of a network content deliverysystem.

FIG. 2 is an example flowchart of a method of providing a flexible,on-demand viewing period.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an exemplary computer system in whichembodiments of the invention can be implemented.

The present embodiments will now be described with reference to theaccompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers mayindicate identical or functionally similar elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While the present invention is described herein with reference toillustrative embodiments for particular applications, it should beunderstood that the invention is not limited thereto. Those skilled inthe art with access to the teachings provided herein will recognizeadditional modifications, applications, and embodiments within the scopeof the invention and additional fields in which the invention would beof significant utility.

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of architecture of a network contentdelivery system 100, including a server 102, a network 104, and a client106. Client 106 is an electronic device capable of communicating andexchanging content with server 102 over network 104. Exemplary client106 devices are a set-top-boxes (STBs), Internet Protocol (IP)-based(i.e., IPTV) STBs, personal computers, laptops, tablets mobile devices,and other devices that would be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Content delivery system 100 includes server 102 that receives mediacontent (e.g., an on demand video or a video stream) provided by contentproviders. The media is typically received via satellite or terrestrialfeed in digital form, and server 102 is configured to deliver mediacontent, including video, to client 106. In an embodiment, server 102may be connected to a head-end that processes and distributes mediacontent to multiple STBs.

The invention discloses systems and methods for implementing a flexiblevideo-on-demand (VOD) viewing period to the user once a video isordered. In an embodiment, the invention may specify a maximum rentalperiod, measured from either the time the video is ordered or from thetime playback first begins. For example, the maximum rental period isset to be seven days from the time an asset is ordered. Regardless ofall other rules for controlling the length of the rental period, theasset will no longer be available for viewing by the customer (withoutan additional order) seven days after the initial order.

In addition to the maximum rental period, the invention defines apost-completion maximum viewing period. The purpose of thepost-completion viewing period is to recognize when the user haseffectively completed viewing the asset. In an embodiment, thepost-completion viewing period begins when user playback reaches the endof the ordered asset. For example, in an embodiment, once the userreaches the end of the asset, the system begins tracking a twenty-fourhour post-completion maximum viewing period. If the embodiment alsoimplements a seven day maximum rental period, upon reaching the end ofthe asset, the viewer will continue to have access to the asset untilthe earlier of twenty-four hours later, or seven days from the time ofthe initial order. In an alternate embodiment, the view will continue tohave access to the asset until the longer of the twenty-four hour periodfrom the time of the initial order or seven days

In an embodiment, the system 100 may implement a notion of constructivecompletion, intended to recognize when an asset has been substantiallyviewed, and to limit the ability of users to game the system 100, forexample, by terminating playback just before the asset ends.Accordingly, system 100 may deem the asset substantially viewed whenplayback reaches a defined point prior to the end of the asset, such asfive minutes before the end of the asset, or at a specificcontent-specific point, such as the point corresponding to the end ofthe story and the beginning of the closing credits. In such anembodiment, system 100 begins tracking the post-completion maximumviewing period once playback reaches the defined point. To facilitateeffective recognition of such constructive completion, system 100 mayuse a global parameter to control constructive completion, or it mayextend the metadata normally used to describe assets and control theiruse with metadata identifying, the constructive completion point foreach asset, on an asset-by-asset basis. in an embodiment, system 100 mayuse both a global parameter and per-asset metadata that overrides theglobal data, when defined.

In another embodiment, constructive completion may be deemed to haveoccurred when total playback time has exceeded a specific amount ofabsolute time or a specific percentage of the total running time of theasset. For example, system 100 might deem an asset substantially viewedwhen total playback time reaches 150% of the total running time for theasset. In such a case, if a user orders a movie with a running time of120 minutes, system 100 will deem the asset substantially viewed onceplayback time reaches 180 minutes. This definition of constructivecompletion prevents a user from playing back an asset almost to the end,rewinding to (or restarting from) the beginning, and then playing theasset back repeatedly, without triggering system 100 to begin trackingthe post-completion maximum viewing period.

As with the prior embodiment, system 100 may use a global parameter,extend existing metadata on a per-asset basis, or both, to define thetotal playback time before constructive completion is deemed to haveoccurred, for the various assets available in system 100.

In yet another embodiment, system 100 may both define a constructivecompletion point prior to the actual end of the asset and a totalplayback time, and deem constructive completion to have occurred onceeither measure is reached.

In an alternative embodiment, the maximum rental period is treated asinfinite, and the rental period is limited only based on actual viewingactivities. (Actual availability is never actually infinite, beingaffected by other factors such as windows of availability of assets tothe service provider, and maintenance of a subscription or othercustomer relationship with the viewer.) In particular, this embodimentmay be used in conjunction with assets provided on subscriptionvideo-on-demand (SVOD) basis, and for which there is no transactionalcharge associated with ordering the asset.

In an embodiment, an ordered SVOD asset is retained as an active rental,available through the system's 100 user interface providing quick accessto currently active rentals, while the asset remains available as partof the user's subscription package and until the user completes viewingof the asset. When the viewer completes viewing the asset, system 100begins to track a post-completion maximum viewing period. During theentire period, from initial order to the end of the post-completionviewing period, the asset remains an active rental, and any userbookmarks associated with the asset are preserved. When thepost-completion maximum viewing period ends, or when the asset becomesno longer available as part of the user's subscription, the asset isremoved from the list of active rentals, and any user bookmarks arediscarded.

In another embodiment, system 100 implements a constructive completionmechanism, in order to facilitate a timely cleanup of assets the user isdone with, but which have not been played through to the end of theasset (because, for example, the user was not interested in viewing theclosing credits, and terminated playback prior to the actual end of theasset).

In an embodiment, the SVOD system may implement a maximum rental period,to assure timely cleanup of assets the user decided were notsufficiently interesting to continue watching, prior to completion. Thesystem may additionally provide a manual control for the user todirectly remove an asset from the active rentals list.

Although the exemplary embodiment relates to video-on-demand content, aswill be evident to those skilled in the relevant arts, the invention isnot limited to video content, but may also be used to manage access forany on-demand content rented on a transactional or subscription basis,by monitoring for the completion of consumption or the substantialconsumption of that content, including but not limited to, video games,audio assets such as musical recordings or audio books, and writtencontent, such as e-books.

Moreover, system 100 may monitor the completion of consumption or thesubstantial consumption of the content on server 102 or client 104.

In a related application of the invention to a digital video recorder(DVR), the DVR system may track completion of playback, or constructivecompletion of playback, of recordings, in order to prioritize thedeletion of recordings when recording space becomes constrained. Forexample, the DVR system may track which assets have been completed, andwhich have not, and adjust existing algorithms to select assets fordeletion to prioritize the preservation of assets that have not beencompleted. In an embodiment, the system may allow a user to markspecific assets to be preserved regardless of the completion status. Asthose skilled in the relevant arts will recognize, the DVR may beimplemented as a conventional in-home DVR or as a network orremote-storage DVR, located at a service provider facility, such as acable television head-end, and the invention may be applied tomanagement of storage of any media asset, including but not limited to,video games, audio assets such as musical recordings or audio books, andwritten content, such as e-books. In addition, the same storagemanagement technique may be used to manage the storage of any devicestoring media assets, such as personal computers, smartphones, tablets,portable media players, video game systems, and e-book readers.

FIG. 2 is an example flowchart 200 for providing a flexible VOD viewingperiod, according to an embodiment.

Flowchart 200 begins at step 202, during which the VOD is ordered. Forexample, a user may order the VOD by connecting to client 106. Inresponse, server 102 provides the VOD through client 106 for a user toview.

At step 204, the play of the asset is monitored. In an embodiment, theviewing period begins when the VOD is ordered. In another embodiment,the viewing period begins when the user first begins playout of theasset. Once the viewing period begins, system 100 monitors playout ofthe asset. In an embodiment, once the user reaches the end of the asset,the system begins tracking a twenty-four hour post-completion maximumviewing period. In another embodiment, system 100 monitors forconstructive completion, for example, playback through a defined pointprior to the end of the asset. In another embodiment, constructivecompletion may be deemed to have occurred when the total playback timehas exceeded a specific amount of absolute time or a specific percentageof the total running time of the asset.

At stages 206-212 the rental period of the asset may be shortened. Atstage 206, system 100 determines whether the user completed orconstructively completed viewing of the asset. If the completion orconstructive completion occurred, the flowchart proceeds to step 208,otherwise to step 204.

At step 208, the system determines whether a new expiration periodshould be applied. For example, the system evaluates whether thepost-completion maximum viewing period requires an earlier expirationthat the maximum rental period allows. If so, the flowchart proceeds tostep 210, otherwise to step 212.

At step 210, the original expiration time is replaced with a newexpiration time. For example, the expiration time for the rental isadvanced to conform to the required post-completion viewing periodmaximum, and the rental period is shortened.

At step, 212, the original expiration time is retained by the system.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an example computer system 300 used toimplement embodiments of client 106 and/or server 102. Various aspectsof the various embodiments can be implemented by software, firmware,hardware, or a combination thereof. Example computer system 300 in whichan embodiment, or portions thereof, can also be implemented ascomputer-readable code. After reading this description, it will becomeapparent to a person skilled in the relevant art how to implementembodiments using other computer systems and/or computer architectures.

Computer system 300 includes one or more processors, such as processor304. Processor 304 can be a special purpose or a general purposeprocessor. Processor 304 is connected to a communication infrastructure306 (for example, a bus or network).

Computer system 300 also includes a main memory 308, preferably randomaccess memory (RAM), and may also include a secondary memory 310.Secondary memory 310 may include, for example, a hard disk drive 312and/or a removable storage drive 314. Removable storage drive 314 maycomprise a floppy disk drive, a magnetic tape drive, an optical diskdrive, a flash memory, or the like. The removable storage drive 314reads from and/or writes to a removable storage unit 318 in a well-knownmanner. Removable storage unit 318 may comprise a floppy disk, magnetictape, optical disk, etc. which is read by and written to by removablestorage drive 314. As will be appreciated by persons skilled in therelevant art(s), removable storage unit 318 includes a tangible computerreadable storage medium having stored therein computer software and/ordata.

In alternative implementations, secondary memory 310 may include othersimilar means for allowing computer programs or other instructions to beloaded into computer system 300. Such means may include, for example, aremovable storage unit 322 and an interface 320. Examples of such meansmay include a program cartridge and cartridge interface (such as thatfound in video game devices), a removable memory chip (such as an EPROM,or PROM) and associated socket, and other removable storage units 322and interfaces 320 which allow software and data to be transferred fromthe removable storage unit 322 to computer system 300.

Computer system 300 may also include a communications interface 324.Communications interface 324 allows software and data to be transferredbetween computer system 300 and external devices. Communicationsinterface 324 may include a modem, a network interface (e.g., anEthernet card), a communications port, a PCMCIA slot and card, or thelike. Software and data transferred via communications interface 324 areprovided to communications interface 324 via a communications path 326.Communications path 326 may be implemented using wire or cable, fiberoptics, a phone line, a cellular phone link, and radio frequency (RF)link or other communications channels.

In this document, the terms “computer program medium” and “computerusable medium” are used to generally refer to media such as removablestorage unit 318, removable storage unit 322, and a hard disk installedin hard disk drive 312. Computer program medium and computer usablemedium can also refer to memories, such as main memory 308 and secondarymemory 310, which can be memory semiconductors (e.g. DRAMs, etc.). Thesecomputer program products are means for providing software to computersystem 300.

Computer programs (also called computer control logic) are stored inmain memory 308 and/or secondary memory 310. Computer programs may alsobe received via communications interface 324. Such computer programs,when executed, enable computer system 300 to implement embodiments asdiscussed herein, such as the system described above. In particular, thecomputer programs, when executed, enable processor 304 to implement theprocesses of embodiments. Accordingly, such computer programs representcontrollers of the computer system 300. Where embodiments areimplemented using software, the software may be stored in a computerprogram product and loaded into computer system 300 using removablestorage drive 314, interface 320, hard drive 312 or communicationsinterface 324.

Computer system 300 may also include a display interface 328 and adisplay 330. Display 330 allows for the viewing of content, such as,without limitation, VOD described herein. Display interface 228 receivescontent from communications infrastructure 306 and provides the contentto display 300.

It is to be appreciated that the Detailed Description section, and notthe Summary and Abstract sections, is intended to be used to interpretthe claims. The Summary and Abstract sections may set forth one or more,but not, all exemplary embodiments of the present invention ascontemplated by the inventor, and thus, are not intended to limit thepresent invention and the appended claims in any way.

Embodiments have been described above with the aid of functionalbuilding blocks illustrating the implementation of specified functionsand relationships thereof. The boundaries of these functional buildingblocks have been arbitrarily defined herein for the convenience of thedescription. Alternate boundaries can be defined so long as thespecified functions and relationships thereof are appropriatelyperformed.

The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fullyreveal the general nature of the invention that others can, by applyingknowledge within the skill of the art, readily modify and/or adapt forvarious applications such specific embodiments, without undueexperimentation, without departing from the general concept of thepresent invention. Therefore, such adaptations and modifications areintended to be within the meaning and range of equivalents of thedisclosed embodiments, based on the teaching and guidance presentedherein. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminologyherein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, suchthat the terminology or phraseology of the present specification is tobe interpreted by the skilled artisan in light of the teachings andguidance.

The breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited byany of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be definedonly in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.

1. A method for providing a flexible content access period, comprising:providing on-demand content to a customer, wherein said content isavailable to the customer for a predefined period; monitoringconsumption of said on-demand content; and shortening said period ifsaid on-demand content is substantially consumed.
 2. The method of claim1, wherein said predefined period begins upon the customer ordering theon-demand content.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein said predefinedperiod begins upon initial consumption of the on-demand content.
 4. Themethod of claim 1, wherein said on-demand content is substantiallyconsumed when said on-demand content has been consumed through to theend of said on-demand content.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein saidon-demand content is substantially consumed when said on-demand contenthas been consumed up to a defined point before the end of said on-demandcontent.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein said on-demand content is atleast one of video or audio content, and wherein said on-demand contentis substantially consumed when said on-demand content has been playedfor a period of time longer than a predefined period of playing time. 7.The method of claim 6, further comprising obtaining metadata for saidon-demand content, wherein said metadata includes the running time ofsaid on-demand content, and wherein said predefined period of playingtime is determined based on said running time.
 8. A method for managingcustomer access to ordered on-demand content, comprising: providingon-demand content to a customer, wherein said content is available tothe customer for an indefinite period; monitoring consumption of saidon-demand content; and removing access to said on-demand content aftersaid content is substantially consumed.
 9. The method of claim 8,wherein the on-demand content is an on-demand video.
 10. The method ofclaim 9, wherein access to said on-demand video is removed after apredefined period after the video is substantially viewed.
 11. Themethod of claim 9, wherein said on-demand video is substantially viewedwhen said on-demand video has been viewed through to the end of saidon-demand video.
 12. The method of claim 9, wherein said on-demand videois substantially viewed when said on-demand video has been viewed up toa defined point before the end of said on-demand video.
 13. The methodof claim 9, wherein said on-demand video is substantially viewed whensaid on-demand video has been played for a period of time longer than apredefined period of playing time.
 14. The method of claim 13, farthercomprising obtaining metadata for said on-demand video, wherein saidmetadata includes the running time of said on-demand video, and whereinsaid predefined period of playing time is determined based on saidrunning time.
 15. A method for ensuring available storage space on amedia playing system, comprising: storing a media program in the system;monitoring play of said media program; and prioritizing said mediaprogram for deletion if the media program has been substantially viewed.16. The method of claim 15, wherein the media playing system is adigital video recorder (DVR).
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein theDVR is a network DVR or remote storage DVR.
 18. The method of claim 15,wherein the media playing system is a personal computer, tablet,smartphone, portable media player, video game system, or e-book reader.19. An article of manufacture including a computer-readable mediumhaving instructions retrieved thereon that, when executed by a computingdevice, cause the computing device to perform operations for providing aflexible content access period, comprising: providing on-demand contentto a customer, wherein said content is available to the customer for aperiod of time; monitoring consumption of said on-demand content; andmanipulating said period if said on-demand content is substantiallyconsumed.
 20. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, whereininstructions that cause the computing device to perform operations forproviding a flexible content access period, further compriseinstructions that cause the computing device to perform operations,comprising: shortening said period after said on-demand content issubstantially consumed.
 21. The computer-readable medium of claim 19,wherein instructions that cause the computing device to performoperations for providing a flexible content access period, furthercomprise instructions that cause the computing device to performoperations, comprising: terminating said period after said on-demandcontent is substantially consumed.
 22. A system for providing a flexiblecontent access period comprising: means for providing on-demand contentto a customer, wherein said content is available to the customer for aperiod of time; means for monitoring consumption of said on-demandcontent; and means for manipulating said period if said on-demandcontent is substantially consumed.
 23. The system of claim 22, furthercomprising: means for shortening said period after said on-demandcontent is substantially consumed.
 24. The system of claim 22, furthercomprising: means for terminating said period after said on-demandcontent is substantially consumed.